Contents

Notices.........................................................................................................

vi

Safety information......................................................................................

vii

About this guide........................................................................................

viii

P5N73-AM specifications summary............................................................

x

Chapter 1:Product introduction

 

1.1

Welcome!.......................................................................................

1-2

1.2

Package contents.........................................................................

1-2

1.3

Special features............................................................................

1-2

 

1.3.1

Product highlights............................................................

1-2

 

1.3.2

ASUS Special features....................................................

1-4

1.4

Before you proceed......................................................................

1-5

1.5

Motherboard overview.................................................................

1-6

 

1.5.1

Placement direction.........................................................

1-6

 

1.5.2

Screw holes.....................................................................

1-6

 

1.5.3

Motherboard layout..........................................................

1-7

1.6

Central Processing Unit (CPU)....................................................

1-8

 

1.6.1

Installing the CPU............................................................

1-8

 

1.6.2

Installing the CPU heatsink and fan...............................

1-11

 

1.6.3

Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan..........................

1-13

1.7

System memory..........................................................................

1-15

 

1.7.1

Overview........................................................................

1-15

 

1.7.2

Memory configurations..................................................

1-15

 

1.7.3

DDR2 Qualified Vendors List.........................................

1-16

 

1.7.4

Installing a DIMM...........................................................

1-20

 

1.7.5

Removing a DIMM.........................................................

1-21

1.8

Expansion slots..........................................................................

1-21

 

1.8.1

Installing an expansion card..........................................

1-21

 

1.8.2

Configuring an expansion card......................................

1-22

 

1.8.3

Interrupt assignments....................................................

1-22

 

1.8.4

PCI slots........................................................................

1-24

 

1.8.5

PCI Express x1 slot.......................................................

1-24

 

1.8.6

PCI Express x16 slots...................................................

1-24

1.9

Jumper

.........................................................................................

1-25

1.10

Connectors..................................................................................

1-26

 

1.10.1

Rear panel connectors..................................................

1-26

iii